Kathmandu, March 11

The 14th Krishna Mohan Open Badminton Championship, 10th Sahabir Memorial Open  Lawn Tennis Championship and APF IG fifth Open Women’s Volleyball  Tournament kicked off at the Nepal APF headquarters today.

Nepal APF IG Singha Bahadur Shrestha handed over volleyball, tennis ball and shuttle cork to referees during the inauguration ceremony,  hoped that the events would be helpful in promoting professionalism in Nepali sports. “The events will not only provide platform to young athletes but also promote and protect the players,” said Shrestha.

Similarly,  Central Sports Committee Chairman AIG Shailendra Khanal said APF  players made the country and department proud through sports.

Meanwhile,  Yogesh Khadka of Kailali defeated Arjun Basnet of Zest Badminton  Academy 21-15, 15-21, 21-13 in men’s singles badminton event, while  Suraj Thapa of Zest saw off Tribhuvan Army Club’s Rijan Maharjan 21-17,  18-21, 21-14 and Gokul Tamang of Kathmandu beat Manish Mahara of  Kapilvastu 21-11, 16-21, 21-16. Nepal Police Club’s Hira Rai earned a  walkover win from Kamal Shrestha of Dhanusha.

The badminton  championship features 10 events and carries a cash purse of Rs 710,000.  Top two in men’s singles and doubles will receive Rs 60,000 and Rs  30,000 respectively, while the women’s singles winner will get Rs 50,000  with runner-up earning Rs 25,000.

In men’s singles event of the lawn tennis, Anil Shahi of Pokhara earned a walkover win from Dinesh Dangol of Kathmandu. In  the above-45 veteran section, Raju Rai of Kathmandu defeated Sanjeev  Kumar Shrestha of APF 6-1, 6-4, while Kathmandu’s Rajesh Chhetri saw off  his teammate Arjun Kumar Shrestha 6-1, 6-1.

In the above-35 event,  Naresh Bahadur Shrestha outplayed Bijay Maharjan of Kathmandu 6-1, 6-1  and Kathmandu’s Muktisen Gurung beat his teammate Ganesh Thakuri 6-1,  6-2.

In the above-55 section, Kamal Thapa of Makawanpur saw off  Kathmandu’s Pabitra Jung Raymajhi 6-1, 6-0, while Krishna Raj Ghale of  Lalitpur got walkover win from Bishnu Prasad Gaire of Kathmandu.

In  the Government Service section, APF’s Suraj Kumar Shrestha beat  TAC’s Sanjay Kumar Jha 6-4, 4-6, 11-9, Shyam Khadka saw off Narendra  Kumar Singh 6-3, 7-5, Uttam Bogati beat Bikash Pandey 6-4,  6-4 and Tribhuvan Bista defeated Diwakar KC 6-2,  6-2.

The lawn tennis championship features 13 events and carries a  cash purse of Rs 595,000. Top three players in men’s and women’s singles  will earn Rs 60,000, Rs 30,000 and Rs 20,000 respectively, while top  two in doubles categories will get Rs 40,000 and Rs 20,000.

Likewise,  women’s volleyball tournament features seven teams, while top three  teams will receive Rs 250,000, Rs 125,000 and Rs 50,000 respectively.  The best spiker, server, defender, blocker, setter and coach  will be rewarded with Rs 5,000 each.